Girlfriend of Ex-Patriot Hernandez is indicted

Associated Press

FALL RIVER, Mass. — The girlfriend of former New England Patriot Aaron Hernandez has been indicted on a perjury charge in connection with the killing of his friend, a Massachusetts prosecutor said Friday, bringing to five the number of people facing charges in the case.

A grand jury indicted Shayanna Jenkins, 24, on a single count in relation to the investigation into the June 17 killing of Odin Lloyd, Bristol County District Attorney Samuel Sutter said.

It wasn't clear what led to the charge. Sutter's spokesman, Gregg Miliote, said he could not comment until her arraignment, which has not been set. A message left for Jenkins' lawyer was not immediately returned.

Lloyd, a 27-year-old semiprofessional football player from Boston, was found shot to death in an industrial park in North Attleborough, Mass., near Hernandez's home, where Jenkins also lives. Lloyd had been dating Jenkins' sister.

Hernandez has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and weapons charges in Lloyd's death and is being held without bail.

Prosecutors say Hernandez killed Lloyd because he was upset with him for talking to some people at a nightclub with whom he had had problems.

Three others are facing charges in the case. Hernandez associate Ernest Wallace has pleaded not guilty to being an accessory to murder after the fact.

Another associate of Hernandez, Carlos Ortiz, also was indicted on the same charge, Sutter said Friday. Ortiz's attorney, John Connors, said in an interview that his client will plead not guilty but he had no further comment. Before his indictment, Ortiz had been facing only a gun charge.

Hernandez's cousin, Tanya Singleton, also was indicted on a new charge of conspiracy to commit accessory after the fact, Sutter said. She had been indicted earlier on a charge of criminal contempt after allegedly refusing to testify before the grand jury hearing evidence in the case. Prosecutors say they offered her immunity.